Apparatus for taking soundings



P. S. HUDSON. APPARATUS FOR TAKING SOUNDINGS.-

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 31 192] Patented Nov. 1, 1921.-

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29 WWW yy azzkfi UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AI PARATUS FOR TAKING SOUNDINGS.

Application filed January 31, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PERCY SEAFORTH HUDSON, subject of the King of Great Britain, residing in Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster and Kingdom of England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Apparatus for Taking Soundings, More Particularly for Use at Sea, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in sounding apparatus, more especially intended for deep-sea sounding, of the kind provided with a cup for collecting samples from the sea bottom, and having a closure device adapted to close the cup when it is being raised so that the contents may not be dispersed. The invention relates more especially to that type of such apparatus in which the cup is provided at its bottom with a collecting bag, and the mouth of the cup is closed by a sliding valve on the device being raised.

The invention will be understood from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows the apparatus in elevation, partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the collecting cup.

Referring to the drawings, the collecting receptacle or cup A is connected in the usual way to the lead or sinker B by a spindle or rod C, and the lower end of this spindle is fastened to radial ribs or a cross piece inside the cup. Preferably, three radial ribs D are provided, spaced 120 degrees apart, and the spindle C screws centrally thereinto, being secured also, if desired, by a split pin. The collecting bag E of linen or other suitable material, which is secured in a recess F in the bottom of the cup A, is protected and secured by a suitably shaped shield, for instance of conical form, such as G which is adapted to screw into the threaded recess F in the bottom of the cup. This shield which is perforated to allow escape of water, prevents the bag being torn away from the cup or accidentally damaged in any way by contact with the bottom of the sea.

The sliding valve H that closes the mouth of the cup when the apparatus is being raised may consist of a conical block of hardwood fitted with a brass liner I that is a sliding fit on the spindle C connecting the sinker and the 911p lower side of in the of the receptacle and a lie Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

Serial No. 441,336.

the sliding valve H has a recess J to receive the mouth of the cup A when the valve is down on the cup. The lower side of the sinker B has preferably also a recess K of suitable depth (say 1% inches) shaped to receive the upper portion of the valve H when the latter is in its raised position.

The mode of using the device to collect a sample from the sea bottom when sounding is as follows :On the sinker being thrown into the water, the latter forces the valve H to slide upward on its spindle C, thereby lifting it clear of the mouth of the collecting cup.

The upper part of the valve passes into the recess K in the sinker B. This has the advantage of reducing the area of the valve exposed to the water and consequently diminishes the retarding action of the valve during the descent of the apparatus. On reaching the bottom of the sea the apparatus falls on its side and on being drawn along, water, mud, sand or the like is drawn into the cup A and down into the bag E. On the apparatus being hauled up, the valve H descends on its rod on to the mouth of the cup A thereby closing the mouth of the cup and preventing the contents of the bag from falling or being forced out. To get at the contents of the bag E, the shield G is unscrewed from the bottom of the cup and the bag withdrawn.

Ideclare that what I claim is 1. In apparatus for taking soundings, an attachment for collecting samples from the bottom comprising in combination a sinker. a receptacle, a rod connecting the receptacle to the sinker, a valve slidable on said rod and adapted when in its lowest position to close the mouth of the receptacle, a detachable collecting bag secured in the bottom of the receptacle, and a shield secured to the receptacle for protecting the bag against dama e.

2. n apparatus for taking soundings, an attachment for collecting samples from the bottom comprising a sinker, a receptacle having an opening in its bottom, a rod connecting said receptacle to the sinker, a valve slidable on the rod and adapted when in its lowest position to close the mouth of the receptacle, a recess in the sinker to receive the valve when in its raised position, a collecting bag adapted to be secured in the openperforated metal shield connected to the receptacle and adapted to secure the said bag in position and to protect it against damage.

3. In apparatus for taking soundings, an attachment for collecting samples from the sea bottom, comprising in combination a sinker, a cup-shaped receptacle having a threaded recess in the lower part thereof, a rod connecting said receptacle to the sinker, a conical valve slidable on the rod and adapted when in its lowestposition to close the mouth of the receptacle when the apparatus is being hauled up, the bottom of the sinker being provided with a screen shaped to receive the upper part of the sliding valve, a collecting bag adapted to be secured in said recess, and a perforated metal shield screwed into said recess for securing the bag in place.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name this 31 day of Deer, 1920, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

-PERCY SEAFORTH HUDSON.

WVitnesses:

' Gr, G DYMOND,

JOHN ,MOLAOHLAN. 

